NBA roundup: Suns keep playoff picture tight with win

PHOENIX — Amare Stoudemire had 35 points and 13 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns used 3-pointers to pull away at the finish to beat the Houston Rockets 116-106 on Sunday night.

The Suns made four 3s in a row, two by Channing Frye and one apiece by Steve Nash and Jason Richardson, in a 14-0 run after the Rockets took a 102-100 lead with 3:23 left.

The victory moved Phoenix into a tie with Utah and Dallas for the third playoff spot in the West, a half-game behind No. 2 Dallas, with two to play. The Suns' final two games are at home against Denver on Tuesday and at Utah on Wednesday.

Nash had 23 points and 11 assists for the Suns, winners of 12 of their last 14.

Luis Scola scored 20 of his 30 points in the second half for the Rockets, who rallied from a 14-point third-quarter deficit. Aaron Brooks added 22 points, including 6 of 9 3-pointers, and Chase Budinger had 19 for Houston.

Nash limped off after taking a shot to the leg with 23 seconds to go, drawing a technical foul as he left the court. He did not appear to be hurt seriously.

The Rockets led 102-100 after Scola's two free throws. Scola drew a foul for bumping Nash during Phoenix's trademark pick-and-roll play on the next possession. The Suns took the ball out of bounds, Scola backed off a bit, and Nash made the 3, his third in three tries, to put Phoenix ahead for good.

MAGIC 98, CAVALIERS 92: At Cleveland, Mickael Pietrus scored all 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, and Jameer Nelson hit a late 3-pointer to help the Orlando Magic beat the Cleveland Cavaliers — resting LeBron James for the playoffs. Pietrus made two 3s to open the fourth, and Nelson connected with 2:53 left to make it 96-88. Dwight Howard had 22 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks for Orlando. Delonte West had 21 points, and Mo Williams had 19 points and nine assists for the Cavaliers.

WARRIORS 120, THUNDER 117: At Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis scored 27 points in his return following a two-week absence, Stephen Curry added 25 and the Golden State Warriors overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the Thunder. The Warriors missed three free throws in the final 53 seconds but held on to win when Kevin Durant's 3-point attempt with a second left bounced off the back of the rim. Durant finished with 40 points for Oklahoma City, which dropped into the eighth seed in the Western Conference with two games remaining. The Thunder are tied with Portland and San Antonio, but the Blazers and Spurs hold the tiebreakers.